Hopelessly Devoted to Holden Finn by Tilly Tennant Page B

pass out, as she seemed to have forgotten how to breathe, and Annabel looked up at Brad with such love in her eyes there was a serious danger she was going to propose to him on-air.
    ‘Those mean that you can come backstage afterwards, wherever you like. And make sure you come and say hi to us,’ Holden said.
    ‘Oh. My. God!’ Annabel squealed. ‘Thank you so much!’
    Holden’s gaze drifted over to Bonnie, who was sitting in the corner of the tiny studio, almost as breathless as Paige and Annabel. He turned to Raveena.
    ‘Can we fix up another pass for Paige’s lovely mum?’ he asked with a winning smile.
    Raveena had been the very epitome of professional charm and composure all afternoon, but at this request looked distinctly flustered. ‘I’m sure we can,’ she replied, looking about as unsure of whether they could as it was possible to look.
    ‘There’s really no need to worry about me,’ Bonnie said quietly, her heart banging against her ribs.
    ‘I insist,’ Holden said. ‘We’d love you to come with the girls. Besides,’ he added with a chuckle, ‘they do need someone to drive them there.’
    Bonnie felt herself blush deeply. Perhaps it was something in the warmth of the gaze he held her in, or the fact that he had insisted she come, as if it mattered to him.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said, not knowing what else to say.
    The DJ cut across their exchange. ‘What a fantastic show we’ve had today. I’d like to thank all our guests: Brad, Holden, Jay and Nick, otherwise known as Every Which Way, and our competition winners Paige and Amelia…’
    ‘Annabel!’ Paige called over, but the DJ appeared not to hear as the band members shared a grin at the mistake.
    Bonnie didn’t hear the rest of his spiel. She was too busy being shell-shocked at the strange turn of events the day had thrown at her.
    ***
    Feeling vaguely though she was living some sort of surreal dream, Bonnie flagged a cab and watched the girls climb in before clambering after them and giving instructions for the train station. She had just been in the presence of Holden Finn. In her mind, even now, the memory of his image was being embellished; somehow his skin was more perfect, his hair more glossy, his eyes brighter and more playfully sexy. She found herself wondering whether it was possible to airbrush people in real life, because if it was, he must have had it done. He had touched her hand. He gave her VIP tickets and told her that he would very much like to see her backstage. Things like this didn’t happen to Bonnie Cartwright. She opened her bag and stared at the slips of card, their foil embossing glinting as they caught the daylight.
    The car roared into life, pulled cautiously from the kerb and began its stop-start journey through the London congestion back to Euston for their train.
    Annabel giggled as she nudged Paige. ‘Holden so totally fancied your mum,’ she whispered.
    Paige looked horrified. ‘He did not!’
    ‘He did,’ she goaded. ‘That’s why he got an extra ticket for her and everything.’
    ‘He was just being nice,’ Paige pouted. ‘Coz he is really nice. He’s, like, the nicest one in the band.’
    ‘He kept looking at her and smiling like crazy when she said anything,’ Annabel insisted. ‘He definitely liked her.’
    ‘Yeah, he liked her like he thought she was a nice woman.’
    ‘No, he really liked her.’
    Paige grimaced. ‘That’s so gross. She’s, like, loads older than him.’
    ‘She doesn’t look old, though,’ Annabel reasoned.
    Paige seemed to ponder this for a moment. ‘I don’t suppose,’ she conceded.
    ‘Ha ha,’ Annabel giggled, ‘can you imagine if Holden Finn was your new dad!’
    ‘Oh my frickin’ God, that’s so disgusting!’
    Annabel snorted and Bonnie looked at them with a vague smile.
    ‘What on earth are you two laughing about?’ she asked.
    ‘Nothing, Mum,’ Paige scowled. ‘Annabel is being an idiot.’

Six
    ‘Where’s Max this morning?’ Bonnie